Fire Ox Vs Metal Dragon

Crafty & Random...

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Seven Things

Well, I've been memed by Basenji Boy, so... Let's see, seven random things about me?1. I screech when I see snakes (snakes in the wild, not in a zoo or pet store - not that pathetic). I'm not scared of them anymore, but I still screech when I see them. In a related vein, last week I was screening dirt for artifacts (archaeology), and a hibernating frog showed up in the dirt - I screeched! (The frog was moving sluggishly, we tried to make him comfortable in another spot.)2. Book series I loved as a child: C.S. Lewis' Narnia books; L. Frank Baum's Oz books; L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables books; and Madeline L'Engle's "Wrinkle in Time" trilogy.3. I'm really, really annoyed with apostrophes stuck in plurals, as in the 11/20 Cooperstown Crier's headline "Veteran's Honored on Their Day." Aside from oddities like children & moose, plurals are not that tough! (also, misuse of "your" and "you're" - last weekend there was a handlettered sign in front of Home Depot using "you'r" in place of "your" - first time I've seen that one.)4. I have specialized equipment for making lefse, thin Norwegian potato pancakes.5. I'm a fiber snob, a pie crust elitist, but have nothing against cake from a mix. I've tried making cake from scratch; it didn't seem worth the bother.6. In the last year or so, I've developed a crush on the semi-colon and have probably been overusing it.7. My parents named me "Claire" while they were living in the town of Clarion, in Clarion County, near the Clarion River, where I would attend Clarion Area Elementary School and Clarion Area High School, and where they worked at Clarion University. Why? They said they didn't expect to end up staying there. The only time I recall a really likely chance of moving, though, it was going to be to Eau Claire, WI!I'm not going to forward this meme for two reasons: 1) seems too much like a chain letter, and I hate chain letters with a passion; and 2) BB's already sent it to everyone I know.

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Peppermint petals

Since I seem to have hit the wall for now on baby blankets, I decided to make a couple of the petal bibs from One Skein for the most recent friend's baby. AC Moore had a bunch of new colors of Sugar & Cream, including a bunch that are striped with each strand in a different color. Though I generally oppose pink, I really like this one - you can't see it in the photo, but the yarn is made up of separate strands of white, dark pink, and pale pink. It just looks like a tasty mint to me - am I thinking of Canada Mints? This pattern is quick & fun, the construction is ingenious. The only downside will be the 12 ends to weave in for one little bib. But then, I can start the green one. (See my hand on the cat? He was in a really "you're looking here, so I will put myself here" mood, so I had to hold him down to take the photo. Silly people think cats are aloof.)

And, here, to remind myself that I need to be working on dissertation writing (!!!), is a photo of some old timey knitting from Colorado Fuel & Iron's "Camp & Plant," the company magazine in the early 20th century.

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Interesting Quiz Results

I'm not a big follower of the Harry Potter universe, so I'm not sure if this is a good thing...Quizilla has decided that Slytherin would be my house. And they gave me a song, too:Do these two go together somehow?

Thursday, November 01, 2007

What was in the Bag?

Why, thank you for asking, Ms. Bestitched...DC has shown off (most of) her loot, and MOD made off with quite a haul from the Sheep & Wool Festival, including a few skeins of beaded 100% bunny yarn.Here's what filled up my tote bag: Some bluey-purple mohair that has (as of last night) turned into a scarf. I thought there would be enough for the Feathery Lace Stole from Exquisite Little Knits, but I was (way) off in yardage estimation and yarn weight. This is quite a bit thicker than the Rowan Silkhaze that the pattern calls for. So, I ended up having enough to make one feather & fan patterned scarf. The colors are lovely - darker than it looks in the photo.Three skeins of this lovely, lovely Mountain Colors Barefoot - noticing a color trend here? Maybe MCB would make a good Feathery Lace Stole? We'll see what this turns into.Two huge skeins of something not bluey-purple, this Peruvian Tweed alpaca yarn. It's so soft, mmmm (makes you hum like an alpaca). I was thinking of some kind of wrap with this b/c it would be luscious to wrap up in. I've been experimenting with one lace pattern, but the soft, soft alapaca seems to make the lace pattern kind of - mushy? Maybe Clapotis? (And here's some of the great handiness of ravelry - I found someone else who had made Clapotis in this yarn. She's very happy with it, and recommended a size 7 needle rather than the size 8 the pattern calls for.) And I bought one very handsome ceramic button from the Briar Rose Fibers booth.